Shep Smith Takes a Dig at Chick-fil-A Holiday

Fox News' Shep Smith, the host of the cable news channel's primetime "Studio B," seemed to take issue with the controversial Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, which was created by former Gov. Mike Huckabee -- a fellow Fox News anchor -- and turned out to be one of the company's best days regarding sales.

Smith, who has stated that he supports marriage equality in the past, was able to cleverly slam the fast-food chain and the politician without directly mentioning them, Mediaite reported.

"It's National Badminton Day," he said on his show. "Let's forget National Day of Intolerance. Let's just stay with badminton."

Smith did not go on to elaborate on his comments.

Comments on the far right-wing site Free Republic were typical: Commenters made not-so-subtle references to longstanding rumors that Smith is gay.

"Poor Shep. Americans caused him to smear his eye liner today," was a typical comment."Shep is a$$ loving tosser. Who cares what he thinks? That little faggot is one of the main reasons I quit watching FOX," another wrote.

Smith's sexuality has been questioned for years. Kevin Naff, the longtime editor of the Washington Blade, alleged that Smith hit on him at gay bar in New York City a few years ago.

"Smith once chatted me up in a New York City gay piano bar, bought me drinks, and invited me back to his place," Naff said, according to an account on the blog site Pam's House Blend. "When I declined, he asked me to dinner the next night, another invitation I politely refused. We sat at the bar chatting and drinking martinis until 3 a.m., our conversation interrupted only when he paused to belt out the lyrics to whatever showtune was being performed,"

In April 2011, Out magazine published its "Power 50" list that ranked the most powerful gay men and lesbians. The publication placed Smith in the number six spot and featured Anderson Cooper, then still in the closet, and Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, who has never formally come out.

After President Obama announced his support for gay marriage, Smith said on his show that the president is on the "right side of the 21st century." He then asked his colleague Bret Baier if the Republican Party would campaign against marriage equality "while sitting very firmly, without much question, on the wrong side of history on it," according to the Huffington Post.

Smith's comments seemed to deeply upset conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh as he condemned the broadcaster for his remarks, the Huffington Post pointed out.

"Shep, where has the issue won?" Limbaugh said. "Where has the issue been victorious, Shep, outside your house? Where has the issue won an election? What state? Tell me where it's happened."

Shep married Virginia Donald in 1987 but divorced in 1993. They had no children.

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Officials from Chick-fil-A reported record-sales the day after thousands of people participated in the Mike Huckabee created Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, an event to oppose gay marriage and support the company’s president who denounced marriage equality.

Conservatives across the country participated in Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, an event created by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to counter a gay-led boycott against the chain for its owner’s anti-gay marriage views.